Bubble, Boba, or Both?

In this week’s random thoughts, I wanted to go on a second expedition in search of different kinds of tea. The tea I wanted to talk about in this installment is Bubble Tea, though I’m sure plenty of us have heard it being called Boba, perhaps even both. First, let me clear the air for those who were confused when initially seeing these terms. Bubble Tea and Boba are the same things, just different names. It’s a heads-up in case you want to try the drink for yourself and thought you might be getting two dissimilar options. You can put your mind at ease, they are one and the same!

Here’s another fun fact about Boba, it has a relatively short life so far compared to tea in general. While other variations of tea have been with us for centuries, Boba made its first appearance in the 1980s. Despite its’ not-so-lengthy lifespan, the drink has been making headway in many parts of the world, including here. This particular type of tea has become quite the sensation in this country and I can see why.

For some, you may still be unclear as to what Boba even is. Well, the Taiwanese-originated favorite usually has black tea as the base mixed in with milk and sweetened tapioca pearls as the finishing touch. Of course, these were the beginning components of the popular drink, but so many shops have expanded them into something more. I think part of what makes Boba so enjoyable is its diversity. Not only can you select your preference of black, green, or even chai tea as your base, but you can also choose between having regular milk or oat milk depending on where you go.

An even more amazing aspect is that the traditional brown sugar tapioca pearls aren’t the only way to enjoy it! Many places offer choices of even adding fresh fruit to the mix. By the way, if you’re really curious, you can find bubble tea kits you can prepare for yourself right at home. With all of these selections, it’s pretty easy to see why admiration for Boba has grown tremendously. Then again, there are times when seeing is believing, or rather, tasting in this situation. I say try the drink for yourself! Who knows? You just might find the perfect combination that will make Boba your go-to tea for life.